The Safety Meeting

Hosted by Novara

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May 2026

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Welcome to The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.

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May 20, 202618 min

The Business Case for Safety with Silvi Materials’ Colby Ankeney

In this episode of The Safety Meeting from Novara, we speak with Colby Ankeney, Director of Heath, Safety and Environment at Silvi Materials, about earning leadership buy-in by treating safety as a core leg of the business. Colby describes inheriting a spreadsheet-heavy program with unclear metrics and explains how he built a data-first approach with a lean team, starting with a gap analysis and easy wins tied to projected outcomes. He shares how Silvi cut injury rates, reduced severity, and delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual savings through improved claims management and targeted resource shifts. He details projects like ending low-value DVIR inspection efforts to focus on real-time jobsite coaching that reduced at-fault accidents by 25%. Colby emphasizes ROI, adaptability, and sustainable process improvements that support workers, operations, customers, and the bottom line.(00:00) Welcome to Colby Ankeney, Director of HSC at Silvi Materials(01:08) The Messy Starting Point(03:58) Safety as Business Strategy(05:51) Proving ROI With Data(07:44) Redirecting Low Value Work(09:58) Building a No Ego Team(12:04) Talking Leadership Language(15:25) Changing Legacy Processes(16:58) Wrap UpThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

April 15, 202624 min

How Data-Driven Decision-Making can Advance Safety Programs with Caroline Miller

In this episode of The Safety Meeting from Novara, Caroline Miller, a Novara solutions engineer, discusses how to strengthen safety programs by pairing seasoned expertise with data collection and analysis. She explains common gaps in instinctive decision-making, and how digital tools, good forms, and team buy-in can give safety managers new visibilities. Drawing on her past experience, she explains how using a defined set of key metrics drove engagement, action, and measurable safety compliance improvements. She unpacks the mindset shift from lagging to leading indicators, highlights data quality practices, and shares tips for navigating tech adoption and trustbuilding during change.(00:00) Welcoming Novara’s Caroline Miller(02:35) Navigation Experienced Instincts and Data-driven Decision-Making(04:29) Building Data Driven Programs(09:05) From Compliance to Forward-Focused Strategy(11:53) Keeping Safety Programs Personal and Human(14:45) Winning Buy In and Trust(17:11) Tracking Leading Indicators(20:23) Improving Data Quality(22:04) Getting Started: “Crawl, then Walk, then Run”Thanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

March 18, 202630 min

Building Safety Culture in the Manufacturing Sector with Haleyanne Freedman

In this episode of The Safety Meeting from Novara, we talk with Haleyanne Freedman, Novara’s own manufacturing sector expert, about why near misses in manufacturing may go unreported, and how to fix that. Haleyanne explains that production pressure, a lack of immediate consequences, the paperwork burden, and fear of blame or discipline may suppress reporting. She emphasizes how supervisor behavior, no-blame investigations, visible feedback loops, and leadership accountability can help. She even outlines a 90-day plan: first, diagnose cultural friction, then simplify and broaden access to reporting tools, and lastly, publicly communicate corrective actions and safety trends.(00:00 Introducing Novara’s Haleyanne Freedman(01:02) What Counts as a Near Miss and Why They’re Underreported(04:00) Psychological Safety on the Floor(07:06) Leadership and Supervisor Impact(10:18) Turning Around Safety Culture(14:38) Building a Better Reporting System(17:49) Closing the Loop After Reports(21:01) Lessons from High Consequence Industries(25:42) A 90 Day Action PlanThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

February 25, 202616 min

The Safety Lab: The Connection Between Workplace Injury and Mental Health

In this episode of The Safety Meeting’s Safety Lab, we delve into the relationship between physical injuries at work and mental health. Highlighting a comprehensive meta-analysis by Granger and Turner involving data from 147 studies with 1.5 million people, we discuss the bidirectional connection between workplace injuries and mental health challenges. We explore the impact of injury severity and frequency on mental health, and unpack the importance of integrating both psychological support and physical rehabilitation, for an employee returning to work.(00:17) The Link Between Physical Injuries and Mental Health(01:26) The Cost of Treating Physical and Mental Health Separately(02:25) Underreporting and Its Impact on Safety Metrics(03:45) How Injury Leads to Mental Health Issues(04:27) Understanding Uncertainty and Illness Theory(06:39) Mechanisms Connecting Physical Injuries to Mental Health(08:01) The Role of Cognitive Reframing in Early Intervention(08:27) How Mental Health Challenges Lead to Physical Injuries(10:08) Practical Applications for Safety Programs(12:40) The Importance of Nuanced Measurement in Safety ManagementThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting’s Safety Lab, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

February 18, 202622 min

Encouraging Adoption of Digital Safety Tech with Utilitra’s Jason Wernex

In this episode of The Safety Meeting from Novarro, we talk with Jason Wernex, Director of Safety at Utilitra, a 350-person, woman-owned engineering, technology, and construction firm with a mix of office and field workers. Jason explains how Utilitra moved from paper-based safety processes to a digital system, achieving over 90% adoption in the first year. He shares how user experience, configurability, and flexibility helped his team encourage engagement and demonstrate quick time-to-value. His takeaways: invest time up-front, follow a clear roadmap, start with familiar processes, and launch with groups likely to become ambassadors.(01:19) Introducing Utilitra’s Jason Wernex(04:58) Utilitra’s Implementation Game Plan(06:03) Digitizing Near Misses & Audits First(07:25) Leveraging Ambassadors and Unexpected Self-Serve Adoption(09:26) Why Adoption Hit over 90%(10:58) New Use Cases, and Cross-Department Momentum(14:54) Culture Shift and Reporting Transparency(17:06) Keys to Success: Flexibility, Fast Fixes, and Designing for the End UserThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

January 14, 202632 min

A Look at Federal and State Safety Regulations in 2026 with Zach Pucillo

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we kick off 2026 with our annual regulatory outlook with Zach Pucillo, EHS Regulatory Compliance Manager at KPA. Zach provides insights into the evolving landscape of workplace safety regulations, technology trends, and compliance priorities for 2026. We review the previous year's predictions, developments, and the regulatory shifts that occurred in 2025 and look ahead to the coming year. Key topics include federal deregulation moves, state-led safety initiatives, AI in safety management, and areas for safety professionals to focus on this year to stay compliant and keep their people safe.(00:51) 2025 Regulatory Recap and Predictions for 2026(02:13) Federal Deregulation and State-Level Actions(08:44) EPA's Greenhouse Gas Rollbacks and State Responses(15:03) Heat Illness Prevention and State Regulations(18:34) Industry-Specific Regulatory Changes for 2026(21:49) The Role of AI in Safety Management(26:03) Key Areas for Safety Managers in 2026(29:10) Final ThoughtsThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

December 17, 202530 min

2025 OSHA Year-End Reporting with Amanda Rawls

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we welcome back Amanda Rawls, Director of EHS Field Services at KPA, to discuss OSHA year-end reporting requirements and recent updates for 2025. Amanda, with over 20 years of safety experience in the automotive industry, provides a high-level overview of the OSHA 301 form, 300 log, and 300A summary, and the importance of accurate record-keeping. She addresses changes in electronic reporting requirements for high-risk industries and shares common mistakes employers make, emphasizing the importance of communication and planning within safety and HR teams. Amanda also shares insights on how to turn compliance data into valuable safety improvements for 2026. (00:00) Welcoming Amanda Rawls, KPA’s Director of EHS Field Services(00:55) Overview of OSHA Year-End Reporting(02:40) Changes in Electronic Reporting Requirements(05:59) Common Challenges and Mistakes(10:30) Key Deadlines for 2026(15:44) Clarifying OSHA Forms: 300, 301, and 300A(23:15) Strategic Use of Year-End Reporting Data(28:27) Closing AdviceThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

November 19, 202524 min

Connect Live 2025 Recap with Emily Hartman and Monica Patel

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, we recap Connect Live, the KPA Flex User Conference which was held in Dallas in October. Hundreds of Flex users convened to learn new skills, enhance their workflows, and share best practices. We talk with Emily Hartman, Community Manager, and Monica Patel, Software Product Manager, about the event's highlights, including sessions on form-creation, admin tools, API integrations, and hidden features of the KPA Flex platform. We discuss the importance of in person problem-solving, and opportunities for users to learn from each other, and celebrate the gathering’s success.(00:00) Welcome Emily Hartman and Monica Patel(01:55) Highlights from Connect Live(07:22) The Power of In-Person Networking(11:09) Hidden Gems in KPA Flex(13:23) APIs and Integrations: Unlocking New Possibilities(16:15) From Basic to Advanced: User Growth and Learning(21:17) Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Next Year’s EventThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

October 15, 202520 min

Purpose-Built AI and Workplace Safety with Jade Hendrix

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, KPA's Senior Director of Product Management, Jade Hendrix, shares her expertise on the integration of AI technology with workplace safety programs. With 17 years of experience in B2B SaaS technology, Hendrix discusses the distinction between generic chatbots and purpose-built AI, exploring how purpose-built AI can help proactively correlate safety data to predict future risks. She stresses that AI should be used as a decision support tool rather than a decision-maker, highlighting the importance of high-quality data for AI effectiveness. Hendrix also delves into the future possibilities of AI, underscoring that while AI can enhance safety program efficiency and insights, it does not replace human judgment and the need to cultivate a robust safety culture.(00:16) Welcome KPA’s Jade Hendrix(00:56) Understanding Purpose-Built AI for EHS(02:45) AI's Role in Identifying Risks and Patterns(04:57) Accountability and Decision Support with AI(06:34) Importance of Data Quality for Effective AI(08:30) Context in Photo Hazard Recognition(10:50) Automation vs. Strategic Insights(13:27) Evaluating AI Solutions for Safety Programs(15:54) The Future of AI in Safety(18:37) Final ThoughtsThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com

September 10, 202528 min

Workplace Mental Health with My Steady Mind's Dr. Seth Hickerson

In this episode of The Safety Meeting, Dr. Seth Hickerson, founder of My Steady Mind, discusses the critical link between psychological safety, mental fitness, and workplace safety. Dr. Hickerson shares his expertise from high-risk industries, explaining how environments characterized by volatility, uncertainty, change, and ambiguity (VUCA) need both physical safety measures, and proactive mental health strategies. He explains how distraction, stress, and burnout can lead to safety incidents, and why organizations must move beyond reactive solutions to integrate mental fitness training into their jobsite culture.(00:00) Welcome Dr. Seth Hickerson(00:58) Defining psychological safety and its impact on workplace performance(02:07) The VUCA environment: what it means and why it matters(05:47) How mental health challenges contribute to workplace incidents(07:40) The difference between proactive training and reactive treatment(10:00) Why leadership buy-in is essential for culture change(11:04) Making mental health training engaging: “hide the medicine in the cheese”(13:10) Supporting employees facing mental health challenges(16:12) Using assessments to identify soft skills gaps in organizations(19:10) Creating a shared language for stress management(22:22) The four steps of emotional intelligence(27:55) Final thoughts and practical takeaways for listenersThanks for joining another episode of The Safety Meeting, the podcast that makes you smarter about current trends and best practices in workforce safety. From employee engagement to actionable data, and everything in between, tune in to hear how you can work more safely.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Safety Meeting in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to this episode of the Safety Meeting. Please note: KPA is now Novara. We're still the same safety and operational risk management software that empowers organizations to identify and resolve issues before they become incidents; we just have a new name and look. https://novara.com